Chance of Storms Through Arts Fest, 'Polar Vortex' to Bring Cooler Days

Though State College can expect a hot – and maybe rainy – Arts Fest weekend, next week will see the return of last winter’s polar vortex, bringing with it several days of cooler temperatures.

Accuweather meteorologist Paul Walker says that Saturday and Sunday both have expected highs of about 84 degrees. Though Saturday will mostly be a dry heat, the final day of this year’s Arts Fest will be a bit more humid and cloudy than the previous couple days.

Both Saturday and Sunday have a chance of afternoon thunderstorms, though Walker says it’s hard to gauge how dramatic any precipitation may be. This follows a period of intermittent storms and occasional flooding in parts of State College.

“With it being more humid, those storms could have some pretty heavy downpours,” Walker says. “It’s possible there could be the return of some flooding problems into early next week.”

Walker says July has already been “wetter than normal.” Over the first ten days of the month, the University Park Airport saw two inches of rain, which is nearly double the average.

Following next week’s stormy start, State College will see “some unseasonably cool weather as the jet stream gets pushed further south than it typically is.” While the average temperature for July hovers around 82 degrees, next week will bring a stretch of several days with temperatures in the low to mid 70s.

In the meantime, for the young and young at heart, the Arts Fest water attractions on Allen Street may have to do to keep things cool.

Michael Martin Garrett is a general assignment reporter for StateCollege.com, a graduate of Penn State and a published poet. He's also a musician who plays bass in an indie rock band.
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